Why does cold weather stop me from sleeping?

NIGHTMARE: Sleepless nights can cause depression and anxiety

- By Camilla Foster

A drop in temperature can have a noticeable effect on how active we feel during the day - but what about at night?

From restless nights in a chilly bedroom to waking up groggier than usual, winter can disrupt our sleep in many surprising ways.

What happens to your body temperature as you fall asleep? "When you move from the wake phase to the sleep phase of your circadian rhythm, that's marked with a drop in your core body temperature of about 0.5 degrees C to 1.5 degrees C," explains Dr David Garley, GP and director of The Better Sleep Clinic. "So, if you're very hot, you may struggle to make that transition, and that is why many people struggle to sleep in the summer."